Kevin Bieksa calls out Oilers in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Kevin Bieksa gives the Oilers a piece of his mind after lackluster performance in Game 5.

The Edmonton Oilers managed just 11 shots through the first 40 minutes of Game 5 on Saturday night despite having some of the most gifted offensive players in the entire National Hockey League, and that resulted in a former NHL player giving the Oilers a piece of his mind.

Former NHL defenseman Kevin Bieksa was clearly unhappy with the effort he saw out of the Oilers through 40 minutes of play on Saturday and called out the team during the intermission for effectively playing scared during the biggest game of the season so far.

“I just think the whole mindset of this game has been off for the Oilers,” said Bieksa during the second intermission. “I think it’s a very safe mindset, it’s a very uptight mindset at times.”

Bieksa said that the eye test makes it clear that the Oilers are playing far too safe for his liking, especially given the magnitude of this game.

“The evidence of that is look at all the decisions they are making with the puck,” said Bieksa. “They are so hesitant, so reluctant to use the middle of the ice.”

Bieksa believes that the Oilers spent the first 40 minutes of the game playing right into the hands of what the Florida Panthers are best at.

“The boards in this series is death,” said Bieksa. “It is death for the Edmonton Oilers. “It is big Florida defensemen pinching, it is big wingers that love these little confrontations.”

Bieksa admonished the Oilers for playing with far too much caution, at least in his estimation, and argued again that the Oilers needed to stay away from the boards.

“They are not using the middle of the ice, everything is along the wall,” said Bieksa. “Here we are, we’re 2-0 nothing we’re Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final and we have 2 periods of safe. Little safe plays by the Oilers.”

Do you agree with the former NHL defenseman? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.